Child Care Operator Resource Guide

Congratulations! By reviewing the contents of this web page and links, you are moving closer to acquiring, building, renovating and/or expanding your child care facility. On this page, you will find links to helpful information for operators (individuals looking to expand, renovate, or acquire a child care center). Specifically, information is divided into 4 phases (see below.) We recommend that you read the information in a chronological order and refer back to different steps as they become relevant to your child care center project.

Below you will find a table of the 4 phases for developing and financing a child care center. This table can serve as the basic checklist to follow in the development of your facility, from analyzing your business needs to starting operations. Within the table, you will be able to link to available information and resources for each specific step. If it is more convenient, you may also download the entire "Child Care Operator Resource Guide."

If you have any legal questions, please call Public Counsel at 213-385-2977 ext. 300. We provide the following assistance -

Information about licensing requirements

Land use, planning and zoning information

Nonprofit and for-profit business structure information

Please note that if you meet our eligibility criteria, all of our services are free. Thanks and good luck!

The "Child Care Operator Resource Guide" was originally developed by Constructing Connections Los Angeles in 2009, a project led by Public Counsel's Early Care & Education Law Unit in partnership with ABCD Constructing Connections, a program of the Low Income Investment Fund with major funding from FIRST 5 CA. The guide was updated in August 2015. Reference in this guide to any specific resource or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Public Counsel.